Regulating device



July 8, 1952 A. GARBACCIO RsquL/wmc DEVICE Filed Dec.. 11, 1948 INVENTOR BLBERT GARBACCAO.

HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented July 8, 1952 REGUIJATING DEVICE Albert Garbaccio, Phillipsburg, N. J assignor to IngersolkR-and Company, New York, N. Y-., a

corporation of New J ersey Application'December 11, 1948-, Serial Nor-64,770-

This invention relates to regulating devices and more particularly to clearance control systems for multistage compressors.

I-Ieretofore, variousregulating systemshave been utilized to eiiectstepbyis'teploading or unloading-of a compressor in order to maintain a prescribed discharge P rate from the compressor. However, suchsystems-were found to be un-- satisfactory under conditions wherein the compressor'was' required to operate with-a varying or decreasing suction pressure as; for example, the condition which exists when gasis-be'ing evacuated from a pressure tankand it is-desired to havev the gas being" evacuated discharged from the. compressor at a constantweight rate.

Experimentation'has shown that regulators of the well known type are unable to maintain the weight rate. of discharge from the compressor within the desired range when the compressor is. required. to operate :underthe above stated conditions and,..further, that the system; as'a whole, was otherwiseineflicient inthatacompressor 'offar greater. capacity than was normally requiredfor agreater' portion ofthe cycle'was neededinorder to maintaina requireddis'charge rate for a' short periodof eachcycle; The cyclelnwthis instance being the completeevacuation of gas fromthescylinder. It .is, accordingly, .onelobject of 'my inventionto provide 1 a regulating system i for a multistage:

compressor to: efiect i a" substantially constant weight rate of fluid-discharged from the com-' pressor. a 'r' A furtherobj'ectiof my invention is toprovide" a control system which will effect the loadingand'unloading of the various stages of a multistage compressor' aplurality of times during each cycle of operation; j v i Further objects willbecome apparent from the following description and:accompanyingdrawing' which is a View, partly in-section, of aregulating system constructed in accordance with the practice of the. invention andadapted toamultistage variable-capacity compressor; 1 Referring to the drawing, :themutistage'rvariable-capacity compressor shown comprises; in

general, a high pressure cylinder, or: stage-H,

connected through a suitable intercooler l'2,-a portion of the'casing being shown, to the low pressure cylinder, {or stage l3,which, in J turn, has its inlet .l4 connected 'toa' pressure tank l5 by apipe I 6; ;In" this particular installation, the purpose of the compressor'i U' is' to evacuate gas under: pressure from the tank l5 and discharge it at a constant weight rate intoa pressure tank 7" was; (01. 230-21) n connected to the outletlBof marshalssure stage H. In order to maintain such .a dis-.

charge rate, itis necessary to vary thedegree ofv loading and unloading of. the two stages during. each cycle or evacuation of the tank l5...

In furtheranceto this end, the compressor-is provided with clearanceandby-pass valves OOH-r.

trolled either directly by primary control de-. vices, such as the valve. 32*, which acts responsively todecrements in suction pressure for sup-.

plying power. .to. actuate said clearance'valves;-.

or indirectly byra set of secondary. control devices; such as the poppet valve 28b connected. to

some of the first said'devicesfor controlling the: supply of power to actuate the clearance valves.

associated therewith and coactingwith such de+ vices to actuate the clearance valves with which they are associated a pluralitygof times.during.

every evacuating cycleof thecompressor;

In the embodimentshown, these devices; are arranged to effectiinitially complete loading Lof the second stage compressor II, then complete? unloading of theseconcl stage compressor: except for the by-passvalves I42 and 242 and partial loading'of the first stagejl3, thencomplete load-J: ing of the second stage compressor H followed by complete loading of the first stage compressor; and finally. complete unloading ,.of both stages when the tank l5'has been evacuated; the-loader ing of .the individual stages of the compressor being; done in astep by'stepyfashion. Experimentation has shown that acompressor'operat-z ing under the conditionv previously ,-menti oned. and having a clearance control cycle as.herein set forth and to be explained in greater detail hereinafter, will operate effectively andefficient-F;

respectivegclearance pockets-1129,. 20;; 21 and 22- formed in the casingy23wan'd; communicated; through ports =24, controlled by saidzvalves; with a compression-chamber ZSLforraareciprocative.

By-pass valves 128' and 228:.control piston 2 6. communication between pairsof cle'arance'ipock ets'l9'and20; and-2f and22-respe'ctively; 1 The high pressurecylindenzor. stage H isfsima ilar in constructionito the low pressure stage l3? with the exception-that it isprovidedi withwaz backhead 'clearance'.. valve'= 422 for: the clearance: pocket 41 The usual side clearance I pockets ,33;

34, and 3B are controlled, respectively, by clearance valves 37, 38, 39 and 40. The by-pass valve for controlling communication between the clearance pockets 33 and 34 is designated by 242, and I42 designates the by-pass valve which controls communication between the clearance pockets 35 and 35. The clearance valves shown are of the spring pressed type being actuated into the closed position by pressure fluid, the flow of which is controlled by the aforementioned control devices.

As previously mentioned, the clearance and by-pass valves of the compressor are controlled either directly or indirectly by devices responsive to decrements in suction pressure of the first stage compressor. In the embodiment shown, these devices are similar to the type of control devices shown and described in detail in let 45, Whenever the intake pressure is abovesaid predetermined value. The valves 3W, 32 30, 28 39%, 31 38 and 40 are of this type. The reverse function i. e., the function whereby communication is established between the inlet 44 and outlet 45 whenever the intake pressure is above a predetermined value, and the outlet 45 is communicated with the exhaust 46 whenever the intake pressure is below said value, is attained by a minor rearrangement (as shown in said Metzgar patent) of the valve 3I substantially this modification consists of reversing the outlet and exhaust connections as shown for the valves 29 I38, I3I and 42 which function in this manner.

In the. present showing, in order to permit ease in distinguishing between valves of the WM II and of the type 2%, the former type is shown withthe conduits connected to their outlets 45 and exhausts 46 approaching on the left hand side of the valve; and the latter type or reverse function valve is shown with such conduits approaching from the right hand side of the valve.

The secondary valves, controlled by the primary control valves, are of the well known poppet type (refer to valve 28 and comprise, in general, a housing I47 for a spring pressed plung-- er I48 which is actuated to unseat a ball I49 from seat I50 and move it onto an opposing valve seat I5I thereby cutting off the flow of fluid through the valve inlet 41, at one end of the housing I41, and communicating the outlet 49 on one side of the housing M! with the exhaust port positioned on'theopposite side of the housing I41. When the ball is on its seat I50, communication is established between the inlet 41 and the outlet 49, and the exhaust port 50 is sealedagainst'.

the flow of fluid therethrough.

-The plunger I48 is actuated whenever the force of. pressure fluid on a pressure surface I52 on one end of'the plunger I48 is suflicient to overcome the spring I53. In furtherance of this, an intake '48 is provided at the end of the housing I41 opposite the inlet 41, to admit pressure fluid to the pressure surface I52 and is, accordingly, connected through a conduit to the outlet 45 of one of the primary control devices. In this manner,.the valve action ofv the secondary valves-28M 39 38 31 42 and 40 are controlled by the primary valves to which they are connectedthat is, the plunger I48 is actuated to move the ball onto its seat I5I to exhaust fluid from the clearance valve to which the secondary valve is connected, whenever the primary valve with which it is associated valves pressure fluid to the intake 48; andthe ball I49 returns to its seat I50 under the force ofgravity and the force of pressure fluid entering the valve chambers through the inlet 47 to valve pressure fluid to close the associated clearance valve, whenever said primary valve exhausts pressure fluid from the intake 48.-

, As was previously mentioned, some of the clearance valves of the compressor were controlled directly by the primary control valves acting responsively to suction pressure. The low pressure stage clearance valves 30, 3| and 32 are in this category and are, therefore, supplied directly with motive or actuating fluid through their respective conduits 35, 3| and 32 connected, respectively, with the outlets 45on the valves 30 3| and 32 The intakes 43 of these valves are, as are the other primary control valves 29, I38, BI, 28**, 39 31*, 38 40 and 42 of this general type, connected by means of conduits 5| to a header- 52 communicated with the pressure tank I 5 through a conduit 53 and are therebyexposed to the suction pressure of the compressor at all times and act responsively to decrements in pressure thereof. The exhaust ports 46 of the valves 30, 3I, 32 and the other said valves of this general type, are connected through branch pipes 54 to the main exhaust conduit 55. The conduit 55. is also provided with branch pipes 56 connected to the exhaust ports 5!] of the secondary control valves 28 39 38 31 42 and 40 Motive fluid for actuating the clearance and by-pass valves is supplied to the control valves 3|, 32 30 28 39 31, 38 and 40 which are actuated below predetermined intake pressure values to communicate their inlets 44 with their outlets 45,-through branch pipes 51 connected between the inlets 44 of these valves and the main supply conduit '58 which, in turn, is connected tothepoutlet 45. of the master control valve 42*- of the type which functions to communicate its inlet 44 with its outlet 45 above a predetermined intake pressure, in this instance, a few-p. s. ifigage. Thus, whenever the pressure in the header 52 is above atmospheric pressure, fluid under pressure is supplied to those'valves connected to the master valve 42 through the conduit 58. Motive fluid for actuating the secondary valves is supplied to the other, reverse functioning, primary valves 29, I38 and I3I through a conduit I52 connected between the inlets44 of these valves andthe outlet 45 of the secondary master valve 28 The valve 42 ,.in turn, receives its supply of such motive fluid through a conduit 65 from a source (not shown). Inserted in the conduit 60 is a manually operated'three way valve 59 to which-'iis alsoconnected a branch of'the main exhaust conduit55. In one-control position, the valve 59 communicates' the valve 42 with the source of pressure-fluid, and in another position exhausts the valve 42 through the conduit 55.

The olutlets45 of the'valve'42 is also connected to the inlet. of the secondary valve 42 and to the by-pas's valves, I42 and 242' through a conduit 6| which is a continuation of the supply conduit 58. qThus the by-pass valves I42 and '242are closedv whenever ,the:valve 42 is supplied with pressure 5 fluid; and" the value or "the pressure in the header- 52-eXceeds atmospheric pressure, and the clearance valve 42 isclosed under similar-con ditions whenever pressure fluid' is exhausted from the intake-of the secondary valve 42'. Valve 42, inthis instance, has its intake 48-connected through aiconduit 65- to the inlet of the pri-- mary valve lI-il and its-outlet 49 connected to the valve 42 through a conduit'42 The outlet 450i :thevalve 29 isconnected through a conduit 63 to theintakes 48' of the'secondary valves 28 39 and 31 which in turn have" their outlets '49 connected, respectively, to the clearance'valves 28, 39 and 31 by conduits23, 39 and 31respectively'.- The outlet 45 of 'the valve i38 is-connected-through a-conduit 64 to the intakes 48 of the-valves 38 -=and 40 which in turn are connectedgfrespectively, through conduits 38 and 40 to their. respective valves 38 and 49. A branch 66--of the conduit 62 connects-the inlet 41 of the valve 28 to the by-pass valves IZB and 223.

"With this arrangement, it is now apparent that the-valve serves as a secondary master valve in that it-directly controls the operation ofthe' by-pass valves-I28 and 228- of the low pressure stage and indirectly controls the operationof the clearance valves 28, 31, 38, 39,40 and 42 Further, it is to be noted that the valve 42* serves as a master valve in that-it controls the flowof motive fluid to all'the primarycontrol valves which are actuated below a predetermined intake pressure to valvemotive fluid to the clearance valves-of the compressor or to the inlets 41 of the-secondary valves,- as the case may be; More particularly, the master valve 42 controls the valves 30, 3| a and 32 connected directly to the clearance valves 30, 3| and 32, and the valves 39*; 31 38 and which supply pressure fluid through their respective conduits 67, 68, 69 and ill to the inlets of the secondary valves 39*, 3T 38 and 40, respectively. Further, the valve 42 controls-the flowof motive fluid to the valve Z8 Which in turn controlsthe'flow-of fluid to the primary valves 29 I38 and I3.

'As was previously mentioned, some of the primaryvalves are designed to communicate the inlet 4'4 wi-th the outlet whenever the pressure at the intake 43 falls below a predetermined value; and above said value, the inlet 44 is closed and-"the" outlet- 45 is communicated with the exhaust46', while the remaining primary valves, of this-type, function in" the reverse. For'any one valve, the exact valueat "which this valve action occurs is, of course, dependent on theparticularoperating condition in which the system is adapted. However, therejare general relative pressure values at which the various primary control valves are actuated/ In the "arrangement shown, the valve 4fl is designed to'operate at a few pounds belowthe atsuc-ceeding decrements in suctiom pressurato permit the how of pressure" fluid to the secon d ary valves' to which they are connected: Fcr.

example, assuming an initial header. or suction' valve pressure fluid .to close the clearance: valve initialgas pressure in the tank 15 and the valve M is designed to operate at afewpounds gage. The intermediate valves operate successively at predetermined decrements in pressure. For ex' ample; assuming the tank I5 is 'fi'lledwith' a gas to beevacuated and the v'alve'59 has be'enf'po sition'ed to communicate thevalve' 42 with a source of motive fluid at say, 90- p. s. i. 'gage', through the conduit 60, briefly the'operation'" of the'regulator is as'follows; I

- The master valve 42 will valve'motive fluid for-actuating the clearance valvesfto the pri. maryvalves in the mannerhereinb'efore described. The-valves 40 "38 .31 39*" and 28 are designed to operate-theminthe' order named;

48;:v The valve? 38 is then actuated-when the headerpressure: drops to 1221: pounds": gageto.

valve. fluidato .thezvalve *3 8'9 which closes .the clear; ance valve==38',= and so .on until the secondarymas ter. valve 28: is actuated, .at: say 86 pounds rgage', to: valve.fluiditothesvalvesi I31; I38. andslfli: The last .three' named valves will, of course, mediately permit the flowzofi-motive .-fluid;there-' through: to their associated: secondary. valves thereby :ex'hausting pressure,- fluid. from i all the clearance .or. by-pass valves connected thereto: At succeeding decrements in header'rorisuction pressureLthes'e .va1ves,.|3 I 138 and. 2.9 will act, in the order-'named;.to exhaust fluid: from the intake: of the secondary control valves to which they are connected thereby permitting. pressure fluid to again flow through their secondary. valves to close the :clearanceor by-passvalVeS to'which they-are connected. r a When the header-r pressure, drops. say :to; .67 pounds gage, valve 2% is actuated to exhaustthe valves 28, 39 :and I 31* and the valves 30, .32 and 3 will then act in the order named'at succeedingdecrements in pressure to valv'e'motive fluid for actuating the clea-rance'. control valves to which they areconnected,

In somewhat greater detail, the function of the control system is-asfollows. The valve 42 immediately, upon being: supplied with motive fluid, will valve; such fluid to the primary valves; .40!- 38, 31F, '39, 28 30 32 and 3H andto themtake of the secondary valve 42Pand thenceto thebackhead clearance valve 42, which is actufated into the closed position, and to the by-pass valves I42 and 242, thereby partially, loading the. high pressure stage Hi Successive decrements pressure-in the header 52 cause the valves 40 38 3'I -and-39 to be actuated in'saidiorderto. close, through the associated secondary vvalves 4g 38 ,3 1 and 39 the clearance valves, 38, 3'! and 39 thereby. completely loading the high pressure stage I l in a step by step fashion.-

Whenthe fluid pressure in the header-'52 falls to. a value at which the valve- 4 8 is actuated; pressure fluid is valved to the by-pass valves I28 and228, therebypartially-loading the low pressure stage, andto the. inlet 41 ofthe valve 28 However, theinlet 410i thevalveZB i s,clos.ed inasmuch as pressure fluid is simultaneously valvedjto the primary valves 13W, [38 and zil which permit pressure fluid to flow to the intakes 48 ofthe secondary valves '28, 39 138", SIR-42 and 40!; With this valve action, pressure fluid is exhausted from the-clearance valves 31, 38,39,

40 and; 42;through thesecondary valves thereby unloading thehigh pressure; stage H except for the clearance valves l42.and 242 Subsequent decrements in pressure; in; the header52 cause the valves 13!, I3}! and. :ZBj -to be actuated, successively,-to exhaust ;fluid ;-from thelintakes 48 ofthesecondary valves to which low pressure stagei'l3i More .lparticularly,

they are. connected thereby reloading thahigh' pressure stage II and 'increasingljtheload on he valve ltmwhen actuated; releases'theval therebyclosing the clearance valve 42, then he valved-38 m actuated at'a'somewhat lower su'c 7 tion pressure to close, by releasingthe'secondary valves 38? and 40 the valves 38, and 40. The clearance valves 31 and 39 are subsequently closed :in a similar manner, by the action-of valve 29 thereby completely loading the high pressure stage H. The valve.29 simultanously exhausts the valve 28 to load further the low pressure stage 13. The valves 30, 32 and ll are actuated in response to further decrements 1n suction pressure to close the clearance valves 30, 32 and M in the order named, therebycompletely loading the low pressure stage l3.1.At this point in the cycle, the compressor is completely loaded and the fluid pressure within the tank [5 is only a few pounds gage. When the pressure within the tank becomes substantially zero pounds gage, thevalve 42 is actuated toexhaustfiuid from the entire'regulating system thereby completely unloading both stages of the compressor. I

It is'now apparent from the previous discussion that a regulating system constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention accomplishes, among others, the objects herein before stated.

While I have shown and described specific forms of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

. I claim:

1. The combination with a compressor having clearance pockets and clearance valves therefor, of primary control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to said clearance valves for controlling the operation of the clearance valves'in response to decrements in the suction pressure, control devices connected between at least some of said primary'control valves and the clearance valves controlled thereby and actuated to prevent or permit control of the clearance valves by said some of' said primary control valves, reverse acting valves con nected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to actuate said control devices in response to'variations in suction pressure to bring someof saidclearance valves into operation a plurality of times during each load'cycle of the compressor, and a valve connected-to the suction side of the compressor and to the reverse acting valves for preventing control of the reverse acting devices by such valves whenever the suction pressure is above a predetermined value intermediate the suction pressure values at the .beginning and the end of the compressor load cycle. 2. The combination with a compressor having clearance pockets and clearance valves therefor, of primary control valves connected tothe suc tion sideof the compressor and connected to said clearance valves for actuatingsaid valves in response to decrements insuction pressure below. a predetermined value,"control devices connected between someof said primarycontrol valves and the clearance valves controlled thereby,-='re'verse acting valves connected to the 'su'ction-- side' of the compressor' and connectedtocontrol the operation of the cohtroldevices in response to decrementsin suction pressure belowa predetermined valuellowerthan the first saidf'predeters 'rnined' value suchfthatsomeof said clearance valves are actuateda plurality fot times duringeach load cycleofthe. compressor,f andja valvev connected to the suction, side of the, compressor and to the reverse .actingyalves Ii orgpreventin'g control by such valves whenever thesuctlon pressure is above the second predetermined value.

.3. Thecombinationwith a compressor having clearance pocket and clearance valves therefor, of primary control valves connected to the suctionside of the compressor and connected to said clearance valves for controlling the operation of theclearance valves in response to decrements in the suction pressure, control devices connected between some of said primary control valves and theclearance valves controlled thereby, reverse acting valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to control said control devices in response to variations in suctionpressure to bring some of said clearance valves into operation a plurality of times during each load cycle of the compressor, a secondary master valve connected to the suction side ofthe compressor and to the reverse acting valves for preventing control bysuch valves whenever the suction pressure is above a predetermined value intermediate the suction pressure values at the beginning and the end of the load cycle, and a master valve connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to said primary control valves and to said secondary master valve for preventing or permitting the control by said primary control valves and secondary master valve in response to variations in suction pressure.

4. The combination with a compressor having clearance pockets and clearance valves therefor, of primary control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said clearanc valves in response to decrements in suction pressure of the compressor, control devices connected between at least some of said primary control valves and the clearance valves actuated thereby for controlling the supply of power to actuate such clearance valves, a valve connected to the suction sid of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said control devices whenever the suction pressure is below a predetermined value intermediate the suction pressure values at the beginning and end of the compressor cycle, and reverse actingcontrol valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected between the last said valve and the control devices to control the supply of power to actuate said control devices in response to variations in suction pressure oi thecompressor such that the clearance valves controlled by the control devices are actuated a plurality of times during each load cycle of the compressor. V

5.'The combination with a compressor. having clearance pockets and clearanc valve therefor, of primary control valves-connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said clearance valves in response to decrements in suction pressure below a predetermined value, control devices connected between some of said primary control valves and the clearance valves actuated thereby for controlling the supply of power'to actuate such clearance valves, a valve connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said control devices to cut-off the sup,- ply of power to the clearance valves controlled thereby whenever the suction pressure i below a predetermined value lower than the first said predetermined value, and reverse acting control valves connected to the suctionside of the compressor,andconnected between said valve and the control devices to control the supply of power to actuate said control devices. and, acting responsively to decrements in suction pressure below the second said predetermined value to cut-01f power supplied to the control devices by said valve such that the clearance valves controlled by the controldevices are actuated a plurality of times dur ing each load cycle of the compressor. 7

6. The combination with a compressor having clearance pockets and clearance valves therefor, 01 primary control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said clearance valves in response to decrements in suction pressure below a predetermined value, control devices connected between some of said primary control valves and the clearance valves actuated thereby for controlling the supply of power to actuate such clearance valves, a secondary master valve connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said control devices to cut-01f the supply of power to the clearance valves controlled thereby whenever the suction pressure is below a predetermined value lower than the first said predetermined value, reverse acting control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected between the secondary master valve and the control devices to control the supply of power to actuate said control devices'and acting responsively to decrements in suction pressure below the second said predetermined value to cut-off power supplied to the control devices by the secondary master valve such that the'clearance valves controlled by the control devices are actuated a plurality of times during each load cycle of the compressor, and a primary master valve connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to said primary Valves and the secondary master valve and acting to cut-ofi such supply whenever the suction pressure drops to some minimum value. I

7. The combination of a multi-stage compressor having clearance pockets for each stage and clearance valves for said pockets, primary control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said clearance valves in response to decrements in suction pressure, control devices connected between some of said primary control valves and the clearance valves actuated thereby for controlling the supply of power to actuate such clearance valves, reverse acting control valves connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to actuate said control devices and acting responsively to decrements in suction pressure below a predetermined value intermediate the suction pressures at the beginning and end of the compressor load cycle to cut-01f the supply of power to the control devices, one of said primary control valves being connected to the reverse acting primary valves to supply the power controlled thereby at a predetermined suction pressure value higher than the first said predetermined value, and a master valve connected to the suction side of the compressor and connected to supply power to the primary valves and acting at a minimum suction pressure value below the second said predetermined pressure value to cut-off the supply of power to the primary control valves to unload the compressor.

ALBERT GARBACCIO.

REFERENCES creep The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

